Burghill Community Academy

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Key findings

This is a good school where pupils make excellent progress.

It is not yet outstanding because most of the teaching is good and the leadership of the governing body is not as strong as the outstanding leadership of the senior leaders. The rapid improvement in pupils' achievement has followed from the key appointments of the headteacher and assistant headteacher. Their exemplary leadership, combined with pupils' outstanding behaviour and attitudes to learning, has led to teaching that is mostly good or better and attainment at the end of Year 6 in reading, writing and mathematics that is above the national average.

The quality of pupils' handwriting and presentation does not match that of the co...ntent of their work, however. All groups of pupils make progress in line with their peers from their low starting points. Teaching is good and improving as a result of rigorous monitoring and support.

The very best lessons result in exceptional rates of pupils' progress. Senior leaders set an example in their teaching although, elsewhere, teaching is occasionally satisfactory. While marking is often good, it is not consistently so across the school.

Behaviour is outstanding because pupils take responsibility for managing their own and each other's behaviour and take the initiative in making suggestions and contributing to decisions about what they will learn. They feel very safe at school, and are very highly aware of the importance of keeping safe out of school as well. Parents and carers strongly support this view.

Attendance has risen rapidly and is now high. Leadership and management are good. Senior and middle leaders manage performance well.

They have an accurate view of the school and have ambition to drive forward school improvement. The governing body is supportive of the school but does not sufficiently challenge senior leaders who are not held to account for decisions made.

Information about the school

Burghill is much smaller than the average primary school.

Most pupils are White British. The proportions of pupils from minority ethnic groups and those who speak English as an additional language are very low, as is the proportion known to be eligible for free school meals. The proportion of disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs is broadly average, including those pupils at school action, school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs.

The school meets current government floor standards. These are minimum standards for attainment and progress expected by the government. The headteacher was appointed in January 2008.